It’s about time the Charlotte Bobcats got into the trade game again.

The deadline clock was ticking down Thursday before management pulled the trigger on two much-needed trades.

Say hello to third-year forward Tyrus Thomas (6-10, 225) and 14-year center Theo Ratliff (6-10, 235) – the newest members of the Bobcats roster.

Goodbye Flip Murray (we hardly got to know you) and Acie Law (I didn’t know you were still here).

I really like the Thomas pickup. The former Chicago Bull was coming off the bench this season, putting up nearly nine points, six rebounds and almost two blocks in 20-plus minutes of action, but he fell out of the good graces of the Bulls management and didn’t get along at all with coach Vinny Del Negro.

There won’t be any problems in the Qcity, though. If Larry Brown can handle Stephen Jackson, dealing with Thomas should be a walk in the park. He’ll have nothing but respect for a coach who has won a NBA championship and tutored a variety of all-stars, including the volatile Allen Iverson.

Not to mention, Thomas is a restricted free agent this summer and would relish an opportunity to prove to management and the coaching staff in Chi-town, as well as to other NBA teams, just how good he really is. He’ll have plenty of chances to do that while filling the hole the Bobcats have at the back-up power forward position. If this plays out right, he could even push current starter Boris Diaw for some minutes.

The Theo Ratliff move didn’t thrill me, but Charlotte gave up virtually nothing (a future second-round pick) for him, and with the team’s rash of injuries at center, I can’t complain. Ratliff, who came from the San Antonio Spurs, played in only 21 games, averaging about nine minutes, but he can’t be worse than Tyson “damaged goods” Chandler and DeSagana “I’m still learning how to play after seven years” Diop.

Nazr Mohammed has been solid down low, but even he has caught the injury bug, so the Bobcats were running out of big body’s to play. By the way, Ratliff is a Brown disciple, having played for him in Philly, which means he should have minimal problems in adjusting to his new surroundings.

Bottom line, I hated to see Murray leave, but Thomas and Ratliff should help the Bobcats’ push for their first playoff birth.

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte.

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